Letter from the President of theAmerican College of Vedic AstrologyTM

About Mula -- the Root of New Light at the Winter Solstice

By William Levacy, Ph.D.

At this time of the Winter Solstice, on December 21 for the northern hemisphere, the earth, Sun, and the galactic equator come into a type of alignment, depending on where the imprecisely defined boundaries of the Milky Way are marked. In 2012, there have been many interpretations of Mayan history and speculation about the impact of changes on this time. Vedic cosmology does not proclaim anything similar to some interpretations of the end of the Mayan calendar.

However, there are many interesting corresponding details in Vedic history and myth. If we peer a bit into the history of Mula nakshatra, where the Winter Solstice occurs now, we discover some fascinating insights about the changes that are possible at times like this. In any event, the world consciousness is alert to a new wave of change, and those of you who are change agents have a wonderful opportunity to build on the change consciousness embedded in the facts and myth of the nakshatra of Mula, known as “the root” in Sanskrit.

The Winter Solstice occurs now in the rasi or constellation of Sagittarius. The solstice point is positioned within the Vedic Nakshatra or asterism called Mula. Mula is the 19th Nakshatra of the Vedic lunar zodiac. Historically, Mula is described as five stars that represent the form a conch shell. Mula nakshatra can be located to the east of Jyestha nakshatra near the tail of Vrischika (Scorpio). Mula, which is defined as “the root,” in past times went by the name of Vichrita (Mukherji, 1969). According to the Atharvaveda, persons born in the Vichrita nakshatra were inclined to bring about the destruction of their lineage. Vichrita Nakshatra is also called Mulavarhani Nakshatra in the Taittiriya Brahmana (Mukherji, 1969).

Mula nakshatra’s regent or ruler is Nirriti, the goddess of dissolution. She is sometimes associated with Mrityu or death, which in turn is often associated with Yama, the Lord of Death. Nirriti’s gana or group is that of Rakshasa or demonic energy. Nirriti is a dikpala or guardian of the Southwest direction in Vastu, India’s system similar to Feng Shui. In Vastu, the Southwest is the most stable area of a dwelling. It is where the master of the house is invited to stay and rest. The characteristics of Mula Nakshatra are those of directness, getting to the “root” of things. The Cologne Sanskrit Lexicon defines Mula as being “rooted” or “firmly fixed.” Mula is the bottom or base of anything. While Mula’s ruling deity Nirriti represents dissolution, Mula as a whole represents the beginnings and origin of things. It is the foundation and order of manifestation. It is the ending and commencement both.

The name nirrita or nir-rita means absence of order. It is the creative point of generation where everything has been taken down to shunya or zero to create a state where all new things are possible. The male counterpart of Nirriti is Nirrita, another name for Rudra or Shiva. Rig Veda 6.49.10 identifies Rudra as the “father of the cosmos.” Rudra possesses healing remedies (Rig Veda 1.43.4) and is hailed as the physician of physicians (Rig Veda 2.33.4). Rudra, as Shiva, is also called Vaidyanatha, the Lord of Remedies. It appears that Rudra, as Nirrita, is also called Sarva, the Archer. Mula is in the rasi or sign of Sagittarius or Dhanus, another archer. Sarva means “to kill” in Sanskrit, but complements Nirriti’s energy to clear the path of obstruction so that a new, refreshed level of life might manifest. Shiva as one of the Trimurthis, or three Gunas, is the destroyer, and the Lord of Silence. From that silence all activity is manifested.

So rather than responding to this Winter solstice as the end of times, it is actually a space cleared in present time worthy of our best intention. It is the time for action to create a vivid new time for ourselves and our world. We’re moving out of the darkness of the solstice’s failing light, firmly fixed and rooted in the brilliance or Jyoti for a new year of joy and celebration ahead.